The short answer is YES!

In professional terms, nurses are bound by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Health Visiting and Midwifery (UKCC) code of conduct.

The UKCC code of conduct states that:

Each registered nurse, midwife and health visitor shall act, at all times, in such a manner as to:

• safeguard and promote the interests of individual patients and clients;
• serve the interests of society;
• justify public trust and confidence, and
• uphold and enhance the good standing and reputation of the professions.

As a registered nurse, midwife or health visitor, you are personally accountable for your practice and, in the exercise of your professional accountability, must:

• act always in such a manner as to promote and safeguard the interests and well-being of patients and clients;
• ensure that no action or omission on your part, or within your sphere of responsibility, is detrimental to the interests, condition or safety of patients and clients;
• recognise and respect the uniqueness and dignity of each patient and client, and respond to their need for care, irrespective of their ethnic origin, religious beliefs, personal attributes and the nature of their health problems or any other factor;
• report to an appropriate person or authority, at the earliest possible time, any conscientious objection that may be relevant to your professional practice.

The benefits to individual and public health that can be achieved through providing citric acid alongside advice and information to injecting drug users mean that the provision of citric falls within the ethical requirements of the code of conduct.